According to court papers, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge last month put Winter, who plays the precocious teenager Alex Dunphy on the Emmy-winning TV comedy, under the temporary guardianship of her older sister, Shanelle Gray.

Celebrity website TMZ.com said Winter's mother was alleged to have slapped and emotionally abused the teen, and had been ordered to stay away from her. Ariel has left her mother's home, TMZ said.

Gray will retain guardianship of Winter at least until a Nov. 20 hearing, a judge said.

Winter's publicist did not return calls for comment on Wednesday.

"Modern Family" portrays the lives of three zany families and has won three consecutive Emmy award as American television's best comedy series.